A chilling case unfolded in Argentina, culminating in the arrest of Pablo Rodríguez Laurta, the founder of an antifeminist collective, in connection with the brutal murders of his former partner, Luna Giardina, and her mother, Mariel Zamudio. The arrest, made on October 13th, revealed a horrifying sequence of events driven by escalating violence and a disturbing ideology.
Laurta, a 39-year-old Uruguayan national, allegedly abducted their child following the murders. Authorities tracked him to a cabin in Uruguay, discovering he’d crossed the river in a canoe before securing an Uber to Córdoba, where Giardina and their son resided. The details painted a picture of calculated movement and a desperate attempt to evade capture.
The discovery of Uber driver Martín Palacio’s decapitated body and his burned-out car added another layer of horror to the case. Palacio had been missing for a week, last seen after driving Laurta to Córdoba, making him an innocent victim caught in the crosshairs of a violent obsession.
When finally brought before a court, Laurta offered a chilling justification for his actions, claiming he “did it all for justice.” This statement offered a terrifying glimpse into a distorted worldview fueled by resentment and a dangerous sense of entitlement.
The relationship between Laurta and Giardina began online in 2018, quickly descending into a pattern of abuse. Giardina bravely reported both physical and psychological abuse, leading to a restraining order and the provision of a panic button – measures intended to protect her from a growing threat.
Court records reveal a history of escalating violence. Despite a restraining order and a brief jail sentence for entering Argentina with firearms, Laurta repeatedly violated the court’s protections, even being found hiding near Giardina’s home. Each instance signaled a deepening obsession and a disregard for the law.
A psychological assessment following his second arrest deemed Laurta understood the criminality of his actions but showed no serious psychopathology. This assessment, tragically, led to his release in February 2024, a decision that would have devastating consequences. He remained fixated on regaining custody of his son, a desire that seemingly drove his final, horrific acts.
Following the double femicide, Laurta remained silent, refusing to answer questions and instead referencing previous complaints he’d filed regarding his son. This silence spoke volumes, revealing a cold detachment and a lack of remorse for the unimaginable suffering he inflicted.
The tragedy sparked outrage among feminists, who condemned the murders as a direct result of institutional failures and the normalization of misogyny. Lucila De Ponti, a Member of the Chamber of Deputies, pointed to Laurta’s role in an antifeminist collective that actively criticized women reporting violence, highlighting the dangerous connection between online hate and real-world harm.
The collective, Varones Unidos, actively promoted male dominance and fueled resentment towards women. Despite attempts to remove their online presence, their ideology continued to circulate, demonstrating the insidious power of extremist beliefs. Their website, described as an “impressive misogynistic museum,” offered a disturbing blend of practical advice and harmful rhetoric.
Adding another layer of complexity, Laurta had established political connections with advisors to President Javier Milei. While these advisors vehemently denied any association with the killer, their past support for dismantling Argentina’s Ministry of Women, Genders and Diversity raised serious concerns about the administration’s commitment to gender equality.
The Milei administration’s decision to abolish the Ministry of Women, citing a desire to shrink the state, was seen by many as a devastating blow to feminist causes and a signal that violence against women would not be prioritized. The ministry had served as a vital advocate for vulnerable populations since its creation in 2019.
Luna Giardina and Mariel Zamudio are now among the staggering number of women victims of femicide in Argentina. Statistics reveal a horrifying trend, with 178 women killed in 2025 alone, often by current or former partners, family members, or acquaintances. Their deaths serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to combat gender-based violence.
